The Georgian architecture of the Mid Pines Inn is initially impressive as one drives in, but upon getting closer to the hotel it becomes apparent that the hotel is in need of major renovations. The paint was peeling from the gutter, which looked in places like it could fall off and the slate roof sagged, suggesting structural issues. The carpet in the lobby is old, as it is throughout most of the hotel. The creaking floorboards are part of the charm, but the peeling paint on the stairway railings gave the old 1921 hotel a shabby first impression (there is no elevator). The rooms are small and dimly lit, and the bathrooms are tiny, but clean. The rooms are heated by radiators and there is no thermostat, so we had to open the windows at night (very refreshing). There was an old air-conditioning unit in our room which we used to cool off in the daytime, but the unit was visably full of dust through a hole in the top (although the output was not especially dusty, it did smell a bit musty). We ate in the dining room the first night, but it was empty except for one other couple. The bellboy had to go find a waitress for us, who said that she had not expected any diners because no one had made reservations! The food was very good, as it should have been for $73 (two people, no drinks). A player piano played Gershwin to the mostly empty dining room that seemed way past its prime. In fact, the ghosts of vacationers during the roaring 20's could easily be imagined in the room. It occurred to me that most country clubs that age had been torn down long ago and replaced by more modern structures. Many of the hotel staff were extremely nice and gave our stay a 'homey' feeling, despite the other disappointments. The maids were very efficient and overall the hotel seemed to be well-managed. The women's locker room/restroom area downstairs had been recently renovated, and it was by far the nicest place in the hotel. It's obvious that the hotel is struggling to stay afloat due to the ridiculous food prices ($12 for a turkey sandwich, $15 for a hamburger with chips & condiments). The grounds and golf course were impeccable and the location is magnificent. With a multi-million dollar face lift, this could be a first-rate property. For $160 per night (no food included), I had expected a little more, but it was a memorable experience, and not an unpleasant one. The photos of famous golfers from the hotel's heydays (Julius Boros, Jack Nicklaus, Chi Chi Rodriguiz) lined the hallway from the golf shop to the renovated bathroom facilities-- easily the most impressive part of the building.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC